Phagwara: Traffic movement on National Highway-44 in Punjab's Phagwara was restored on Monday after students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) blocked the highway for over 15 hours during protests over claims that an outsider raped a female student on the campus, with police saying the situation was under control.
Students of LPU went on a rampage on the campus on Sunday, vandalising property and blocking a stretch of the New Delhi-Amritsar highway outside their campus over the allegations.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said traffic resumed in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday and the situation was peaceful. A police force remained deployed outside the university.
Several students could be seen leaving the campus for their homes after LPU authorities suspended classes for 10 days starting Monday. Midterm examinations have also been postponed until further notice. Students staying back were advised to remain inside their hostels or places of residence and avoid unnecessary movement.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday ordered strict action against those responsible for the alleged rape incident and directed DGP Gaurav Yadav to visit the university and assess the situation.
Fresh violence erupted on Sunday evening after protesting students pelted stones at police personnel and attacked their vehicles, leaving several police personnel injured, officials said.
A heavy force led by ADGP M F Farooqui entered the campus late Sunday night, and a flag march was conducted by senior officers and other personnel. ADGP Fayaz Farooqui said more than 2,000 personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order.
Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Harinder Gill said there were no protests on the campus on Monday and that police had made large-scale deployments at all gates. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said reports of disturbances in hostels were rumours and that all hostels had been checked.
On Sunday evening, police were trying to clear the protesters blocking NH-44 outside the campus since 8 am when some students threw water bottles at them. The protesters clashed with police, who resorted to lathi charge, prompting the students to run towards the campus.
Once inside, the students allegedly continued to pelt stones at the police, officials said.
Police on Sunday said a rape case was registered against an unknown person on a complaint by the students, and an SIT has been formed to investigate the matter, even though the university described the claims of the crime taking place on the campus as ‘rumours’.
Police said the investigation was underway to ascertain the facts. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether a student was raped inside the university campus, and the identity of the accused has not been established.
The violence on LPU campus came a day after students of Chitkara University in Patiala allegedly set a police vehicle afire over unverified claims that two female students had committed suicide on the university premises.
Viral videos on social media purportedly showed protesters damaging window panes and flower pots on campus and setting some objects on fire.(With agency inputs from PTI & ANI)